Share your tips for staying FOCUSed - GoFuckYourself.com

Sly · 02-14-2007, 09:14 PM

Many of us work from home where distractions are abound. Spouses, friends, yard work, video games, sports, the latest movies on your big screen TV, etc. With so many distractions its sometimes hard to stay focused on tasks that must be done.

I've had this problem as of late but have found a few tricks that I never thought would really work but have amazed me how successful they have been at keeping me going all day long.

1) LISTS. I now have lists for everything. A daily list of tasks to do. A daily list of tasks I've completed. A list of people I need to contact and why I need to contact them. This can really be applied to pretty much anything. At the end of the day I'm no longer left wondering what I accomplished throughout the day, instead I have a list I can look at that tells me exactly how much or how little I got done.

Having a "to do" list has also proven a great way to quickly fill time and get tasks finished. If I have 10 or 15 free minutes, I check the "to do" list quick and notice I need to renew a few of my domains. I've turned dead time into productive time.

2) MUSIC. I've always listened to music through my computer or even the TV, but I would still get distracted by the phone or other activities/noises throughout the house. My solution: headphones. Every morning I now turn on my MP3 player and blast Slayer. Its loud and fast paced, keeps me energized and focused on what I'm doing by eliminating most distractions... oh and Slayer kicks ass anyway, so why not?

These 2 items have really helped me a lot but I would love to hear more ideas on how to improve productivity and stay focused on what needs to be done... work. Share!

Jace · 02-14-2007, 09:16 PM

for me to stay focused I have to be working on at least 4-5 things at once...wierd huh?

if I am passionate about what I am working on, and keep working on 4-5 things, I never lose track

when I get bored I just listen to a good song and come up with another idea and get back to work

fris · 02-14-2007, 09:22 PM

i get most of my work done on a weekend.

geedub · 02-14-2007, 10:00 PM

bong rips + bluegrass = work session.

wizhard · 02-14-2007, 10:00 PM

1. Never try to work when your too tired

2. Never mix work with booze or drugs

3. Never do "brain work" on an empty stomach

4. Never try to do it all in one day

5. Never have the heating turned up too high

6. Try to remmember that money isn't everything

Pornos · 02-14-2007, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sly

1) LISTS. I now have lists for everything. A daily list of tasks to do. A daily list of tasks I've completed. A list of people I need to contact and why I need to contact them. This can really be applied to pretty much anything. At the end of the day I'm no longer left wondering what I accomplished throughout the day, instead I have a list I can look at that tells me exactly how much or how little I got done.

Having a "to do" list has also proven a great way to quickly fill time and get tasks finished. If I have 10 or 15 free minutes, I check the "to do" list quick and notice I need to renew a few of my domains. I've turned dead time into productive time.

I'm still working on perfecting this.. do you hand write your notes, or are they on your computer? I started by using a yellow sticky notes program, but then I ended up having too many and it all became confusing.. I think I'm going to start hand writing my tasks, just so that I can have the paper and pen in front of my monitor so that it doesn't get hidden by windows.

Anyone have any good tips for keeping "to-do" lists?

candyflip · 02-14-2007, 10:26 PM

I have ADHD and have a really hard time concentrating on one thing, AND don't like how I "feel" on the meds, so I use this natural remedy.

cosis · 02-14-2007, 10:32 PM

Red Bull works for me - then again I only work a few hours

Sly · 02-14-2007, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosis

Red Bull works for me - then again I only work a few hours

Slacker!

I have a RB every morning after I'm up and ready.

Sly · 02-14-2007, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pornos

I'm still working on perfecting this.. do you hand write your notes, or are they on your computer? I started by using a yellow sticky notes program, but then I ended up having too many and it all became confusing.. I think I'm going to start hand writing my tasks, just so that I can have the paper and pen in front of my monitor so that it doesn't get hidden by windows.

Anyone have any good tips for keeping "to-do" lists?

I can't write, so I'm left using computer related ways. I just keep an open Notepad file. I've tried the Sticky Notes problem you mentioned but didn't really like it.

If I could write on sticky notes I would definitely do that as opposed to what I'm doing now, that way its always in your face and your computer desktop isn't jammed with notes.

SomeCreep · 02-14-2007, 11:56 PM

lots of whiskey, everyday.

horvy · 02-15-2007, 12:05 AM

smoke some herbs man.

rowan · 02-15-2007, 12:08 AM

0) Close GFY

BrettJ · 02-15-2007, 12:22 AM

I'll echo you're To Do List suggestion , it's the single best tool for keeping yourself on schedule.

I'd add to it maybe having a Not To Do list - by that I mean... there are a few things that you KNOW distract you ever day. give them all time limits ... at least until your work day is done. if you find yourself constantly back on diversion sites like break / myspace / etc ...give them a block fo time that you won't exceed. same for video games. it's good to have a break during your day but it's not good to get sucked in all day long

BusterBunny · 02-15-2007, 12:25 AM

i like to

KrisKross · 02-15-2007, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jace

for me to stay focused I have to be working on at least 4-5 things at once...wierd huh?

if I am passionate about what I am working on, and keep working on 4-5 things, I never lose track

when I get bored I just listen to a good song and come up with another idea and get back to work

I'm the same way. I always need to have half a dozen projects working. If I focus too much on one project, I end up constantly re-tweaking it and I waste too much time on it.

02-14-2007, 09:14 PM	#1
Sly Let's do some business! Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 31,328	Share your tips for staying FOCUSed Many of us work from home where distractions are abound. Spouses, friends, yard work, video games, sports, the latest movies on your big screen TV, etc. With so many distractions its sometimes hard to stay focused on tasks that must be done. I've had this problem as of late but have found a few tricks that I never thought would really work but have amazed me how successful they have been at keeping me going all day long. 1) LISTS. I now have lists for everything. A daily list of tasks to do. A daily list of tasks I've completed. A list of people I need to contact and why I need to contact them. This can really be applied to pretty much anything. At the end of the day I'm no longer left wondering what I accomplished throughout the day, instead I have a list I can look at that tells me exactly how much or how little I got done. Having a "to do" list has also proven a great way to quickly fill time and get tasks finished. If I have 10 or 15 free minutes, I check the "to do" list quick and notice I need to renew a few of my domains. I've turned dead time into productive time. 2) MUSIC. I've always listened to music through my computer or even the TV, but I would still get distracted by the phone or other activities/noises throughout the house. My solution: headphones. Every morning I now turn on my MP3 player and blast Slayer. Its loud and fast paced, keeps me energized and focused on what I'm doing by eliminating most distractions... oh and Slayer kicks ass anyway, so why not? These 2 items have really helped me a lot but I would love to hear more ideas on how to improve productivity and stay focused on what needs to be done... work. Share! __________________ Vacares - Web Hosting, Domains, O365, Security & More - Paxum and BTC Accepted Windows VPS now available Great for TSS, Nifty Stats, remote work, virtual assistants, etc. Click here for more details.

02-14-2007, 09:22 PM	#3
fris Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 55,372	i get most of my work done on a weekend. __________________ Since 1999: 69 Adult Industry awards for Best Hosting Company and professional excellence. WP Stuff

02-14-2007, 10:00 PM	#4
geedub Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: concrete jungle Posts: 3,489	bong rips + bluegrass = work session. __________________ Reliable web host that actually cares, tell em geedub sent ya. Vacares

02-14-2007, 10:26 PM	#7
candyflip Carpe Visio Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New York Posts: 43,064	I have ADHD and have a really hard time concentrating on one thing, AND don't like how I "feel" on the meds, so I use this natural remedy. __________________ Spend you some brain. Email Me

02-14-2007, 11:56 PM	#11
SomeCreep :glugglug Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Where the Wild Things Are Posts: 26,118	lots of whiskey, everyday. __________________ Webair Hosting I use and recommend Webair for hosting.

02-14-2007, 09:16 PM	#2
Jace FBOP Class Of 2013 Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: bumfuck, ky Posts: 35,562	for me to stay focused I have to be working on at least 4-5 things at once...wierd huh? if I am passionate about what I am working on, and keep working on 4-5 things, I never lose track when I get bored I just listen to a good song and come up with another idea and get back to work

02-14-2007, 10:00 PM	#5
wizhard Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 579	1. Never try to work when your too tired 2. Never mix work with booze or drugs 3. Never do "brain work" on an empty stomach 4. Never try to do it all in one day 5. Never have the heating turned up too high 6. Try to remmember that money isn't everything

02-14-2007, 10:32 PM	#8
cosis Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Beach Posts: 5,281	Red Bull works for me - then again I only work a few hours

02-15-2007, 12:05 AM	#12
horvy Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 811	smoke some herbs man. __________________ I like Boobs.

02-15-2007, 12:08 AM	#13
rowan Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 17,393	0) Close GFY

02-15-2007, 12:22 AM	#14
BrettJ ol' timer Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 4,715	I'll echo you're To Do List suggestion , it's the single best tool for keeping yourself on schedule. I'd add to it maybe having a Not To Do list - by that I mean... there are a few things that you KNOW distract you ever day. give them all time limits ... at least until your work day is done. if you find yourself constantly back on diversion sites like break / myspace / etc ...give them a block fo time that you won't exceed. same for video games. it's good to have a break during your day but it's not good to get sucked in all day long

02-15-2007, 12:25 AM	#15
BusterBunny perverted justice decoy Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: unborn still in the womb connected via blackberry Posts: 19,291	i like to __________________ my sig caught gonoherpasyphilaids and died